Monday, June 29, 2015

We are coming to a close of the first half of the year. We all say it . . . I can't believe it's the end of the month . . . It's June . . . Where is the time going?We all have our distractions . . .

Not to mention our daily responsibilities of jobs, chores, family, friends - not necessarily in that order.

How much of my time do I just not use productively?

How often do I overwhelm myself with just - one - more - project?

How often do I set my goals and expectations too high?

Anyone who has spent anytime with me at all knows that I'm notorious for planning way more than I can ever hope to accomplish.

I have a very difficult, sometimes impossible, time of just saying no.

This month's goal for ALYOFs was my Trip-Around-The-World quilt.

This is an older picture, but I've made progress. All the blocks have been knotted with perle cotton. The borders are on and I tried hand quilting but didn't like the look, so I unstitched it. I only had to decide how to finish the borders, add the binding and I'm done.

After I decided how to quilt the borders, I'm doing them on the machine, I was distracted. I was distracted most of the weekend with family responsibilities - they think they need to eat and have clean clothes.

I did manage to get at least the white border quilted. I did 1/4 inch around both edges, then did a large zigzag in between. I'm debating about coming back the other way and making it a large "X". I haven't decided completely yet.

Another distraction was a trip to one of our craft stores. Honey Do is trying some new elements in his pen making and designs, so he needed supplies. I was invited along :) As we walked the aisles, I found these two adorable cut-outs. It's lazer cut wood. I have a couple of ideas running, but nothing definte yet.

We got a bit of a weather respite on Friday - it rained off and on all week - The day started out cool, but the sun was shining. There's more rain forecast over the weekend, and we got quite a bit on Saturday. Everyone took advantage and got the yardwork caught up. Fortunately for me, Newton does the mowing so I don't have to add it to my never-ending chore list. He's out for summer break but starts a day camp on Monday that is everyday. The daily schedule is very similar to the school day, so it will allow me to keep my chores current.

Father-in-law is here for a couple more weeks. He has been a tremendous help with pets and continuing the repairs he began last year on my fence.

With all he's done, we've been able to put up our bird feeder again, the bug zapper is up and he also gifted me with a gorgeous hanging basket.

Once the rains stop, I'll be able to go out and paint and weed.

With all the distractions, there's still been some productivity. That makes me happy.

How was your weekend? I hope you were able to spend time doing what you love.

Friday, June 26, 2015

I know, sounds crazy, doesn't it? But I really do, for some very simple reasons:1. It's my "back to routine" day - Newton goes to school; Honey Do goes to work. Not that I don't love my family, but I love my routine too.2. It's the first day of the week that we "labor". Sunday, we rest or at the very least, do as little as possible. Monday, I dust and vacuum, I catch up the laundry, I generally clean and do whatever needs to be done and wasn't done on Friday. I try to take Saturdays off too - to review my Sunday School lesson, do any errant laundry, plan my meals for the coming week (at least I try).

In order to make my routine more successful and productive, I make sure to build in "me" time.

Me time consists of reading, stitching, computer time, etc. I don't get to do a lot of reading, so I have to make time for it and have managed to do some lately. I listen to a lot of books in the car, but when you are trying to spend more time at home, that time isn't there. So I try to make time to actually pick up a book and physically read it.

(yes, this is exactly how I feel)

Lately, I've had an aversion to my emails. There are so many that I just wish didn't come . . . spam, advertisements, old interests. I need to take the time to unssubscribe to a number of them that I'm no longer interested in. I've noticed a major increase in unwanted, unsolicited advertisements - those being places that I did not sign up for, but are now showing up on a regular basis in my in-box. It makes it very time consuming to try and get to the emails I really do want to see and read. Consequently, I'm behind on my emails and get further behind everyday. So I've tried to carve time out of my day just to keep that up.And now it's Friday!!!!I don't know how or when that happened. There just aren't enough hours in the day.To be honest, and fair to myself, I have a new distraction.

I'd like you to meet Rocky :)

He is a gift from my sweet niece, who felt horrible that we ended up loosing her little runt. And she wanted me to have a sweet little pup.

He is so tiny !!! As you can see, he's a one-hander, probably only about a pound. So he's been keeping me company and extremely busy. Because he's so tiny and fragile, he can't play with the big dogs yet, although he has no fear of them. He's my constant companion when he's not napping:)

Warning you in advance, he's comical and there will be tons of pictures :)

Friday, June 19, 2015

It's been one of those weeks. Thought I would be home all week because my Monday plans were changed. Not so . . .

Monday, I printed my new Stitchery club patterns. Jenny made a new bag with one of her patterns. I fell in love with the fabric and went on a search for it. I found it !!!! A whole yard !!!!

And it arrived today. I was one very excited person :)

More goodies arrived . . .

I got five gorgeous 9-patches from Dorothy, one of my swap partners in Texas. She never ceases to amaze me. These will be added to the others I've collected and I should almost have enough to make a quilt top. But that isn't on the radar until next year.

Another very pleasant surprise for me :)

Several months ago, my big, beautiful light box fell apart at the seams. We knew it was just going to be a matter of time before it did. Honey Do said all along he'd have to come up with something different to make it more stable.

Well, he did!!! The wood is cherry and he put it together after dinner. I really don't need to start another project, but I want to just to use it. He is so good to me :)

Tuesday, I had an errand to run. While I was out, I visited a new-to-me stitchery shop. I love these little shops. This one (who doesn't have a website) has been in business almost 30 years. She carried 20 plus different brands of floss and perle cotton - most of which you could not order on-line yourself. I will check her out again when I need specialty flosses or just want something special. I did find several small projects and this beautiful sampler.

Wednesday, more skirts. Time at the library. BF was at a stitchery class, so I had a morning to myself. We've had a fair amount of rain in the last few weeks. In between drops I've managed to weed and plant at least some of my vegetable garden. At this point, I'm hoping whatever is in will grow and produce. It's the latest I've ever been on planting.

Thursday was my turn to join BF for the Wool BOM class.

The ride home took me through a little rain.

You can see the spray from the semi in front of me on the highway. It's amazing you can drive and take pictures and not have to look at your phone :)

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

I have found that when I get busy, too busy, that I don't give what I'm doing my best effort. I keep reiterating that I'm going to worry less about how much I get done and focus more on the journey.I decided after that last two sermons in church, that I was going to make better choices for my time and I was going to appreciate my blessings more both because of a verse Pastor preached on this past Sunday - "to whom much is given, much will be required" Luke 12:48 and the lessons we learn between Martha and Mary.I've been richly blessed in my life. No I'm not a millionaire, most weeks we live pay to pay. But that doesn't mean I'm not blessed. I have my family, a roof over my head, food on the table, a really good support system, we manage on one pay so I don't have to work even part time, our basic needs are met and occasionally we get to spoil ourselves with some extras. We really don't want for anything.

I had originally planned on Sunday to work on the missions project - the skirts. I ended up deciding not to do that. It would wait until Monday and I would do them in between my chores.

Originally Monday, I was going to meet with BF for breakfast. Her plans changed, so our plans changed, so my plans changed :)

That means all the things I thought I would have to do on other days, could be done on Monday. It always looks like a long list, but they are weekly/daily chores. The things you do everyday anyway . . .

in between running to the library, grocery store, take-out meals, laundry, etc.

I planned my menu . . .

I stripped my bed and put fresh sheets on . . .

planned my "to-do" list - which never seems to end . . .

By 9 p.m. I was exhausted.

Sunday, I went to church and was reminded about expectations.

"to whom much is given, much will be required"

Luke 12:48

How much have I been given?

How richly blessed is my life?

Yes, we struggle . . . financially, emotionally, physically.

There are huge demands on our time . . . work, taking care of home and each other, paying bills, maintaining our home and vehicles.

But we are richly blessed.

So I don't complain about how much I fill my days with as much as I complain about how much I don't get done.

The solution - don't plan so much. Things will get done. The missions work is important,

the family members are important. Sometimes you have to be flexible. So what if the laundry isn't caught up, or the floors swept.

Prioritize.

There have been some hard lessons these past few weeks in church. Last week it was whether to be Martha or Mary. Those of us that are always so busy and doing and not necessarily enjoying the journey are the Marthas. We were challenged to make a better choice. Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet and listen to Him. Jesus didn't care if the food was ready or the floors swept. He looks for us to sit at His feet - to make the better choice.

Prioritize.

Make a better choice.

And remember . . .

"to whom much is given, much will be required".

It's not only important to remember how much will be required, but to give our absolute best when we give it. It's quality, not quantity. At the end of the day, it's just stuff. But that "stuff" should include a piece of our hearts making sure we give and do with the right attitude.

Friday, June 12, 2015

It's Thusday, so that means I'm at mom's today. :) It stopped raining, so I had sunshine on the 40 minute ride. I'm listening to a pretty good book, so it's a pleasant ride (and usually my only time to "read").We cleaned out a couple of cupboards and purged pots and pans and Corning cookwear. Then on to clean some of her windows. She's inspired me to do some of my own cleaning. So this morning, while Newton was getting ready for school, I cleaned the kitchen window.

I made a list of all the other windows to be cleaned and will tackle them at a rate of at least a room per day. Then I will tackle a couple of cabinets I've been wanting to reorganize. We had a very nice visit.

* * * * *

I spent Thursday evening and Friday morning cutting out paper crafts for Vacation Bible School next month. It's time to get organized and start preparing the sample crafts. I met with a co-worker this morning and she and I organized and cleaned up our Sunday School supplies and teaching materials. She will also be helping me with the VBS crafts.

* * * * *

I finished my morning session at church, I went back in the afternoon to help assemble the bulletins, I stopped at the local grocer to get dinner. We Honey Do decided that with the high humidity and temperatures (92F) that I didn't need to cook and add to the heat and humidity in the house. So he wanted sushi. This sweet, young man made a special order for Honey Do. Isn't it beautiful?

I don't eat sushi or sashimi, but Honey Do could live off the stuff !!!!

:)

* * * * *

And the rains, finally - and again - came.

We got a couple of rounds come through this afternoon. We got a really nice soaking, the power stayed on and the temperatures and humidity finally dropped a bit. The relief is greatly apprciated.

And the birds are grateful for a full bath with fresh water. The flowers and weekds aren't complaining either. All this rain and warm temperatures will put the weeds into over-drive, so I'll have plenty to keep me busy next week. The vegetable garden has been weeded. Tilling is next and then I can plant. I'll weed the flower beds in between.